1. It’s not quite a quarter-mile. Ever since the late Wally Park ran timed drag races at Gillifan Field in north Fontana, which preceded the creation of the National Hot Rod Association, the standard length was 1,320 feet.

Until July11, 2008.

In the mile-high altitude of Bandimere Raceway, the NHRA cut 320 feet off the traditional length. The move was designed to make racing safer by causing fewer engine explosions, thus also making it less expensive.

It was a move that caused traditionalists to howl. However, the end result was closer side-by-side racing and far fewer spectacular engine explosions.

While some crew chiefs were very vocal against the change, by season’s end their criticism had waned. Drivers didn’t go as quietly, but accepted the decision.

During the season-ending Auto Club Finals at Fairplex in Pomona, NHRA announced it would keep the distance for the time being.

2. Tragedy rocks the sport, again. Drag racing was not quite over the death of Funny Car driver Eric Medlen in 2007, to say nothing of John Force’s near-fatal accident later that year, when Scott Kalitta was fatally injured June 21 during the final round of qualifying for the Lucas Oil SuperNationals at OldBridge Township Raceway Park.

Driving for his famous father’s team, Kalitta’s Toyota was near the finish line going more than 300 mph when the engine exploded. Flames damaged the parachutes and failed to slow the race car, which went through the sandtrap and hit a concrete-filled support post.

The two-time Top Fuel dragster was declared dead at a local hospital at age 46.

“Scott shared the same passion for drag racing as his legendary father, Connie. He also shared the same desire to win,” the NHRA said in a statement. “He left the sport for a very long period of time, to devote more time to his family, only to be driven to return to the drag strip to regain his championship form.”

As a result of the accident, NHRA shortened the length of its races in Top Fuel and Funny Car and redesigned the end of the track to make it safer, including at Fairplex.

3. The Year of The Sarge. It’s probably easier to list what Top Fuel driver Tony Schumacher didn’t win in 2008 than to run down all of his accomplishments. Primarily, he was the Driver of the Year. He gained more votes than three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup championship Jimmy Johnson and runner-up Carl Edwards, joining Force and Greg Anderson as the only drag racers to claim the coveted prize.

The 39-year-old from Chicago won his fifth consecutive championship, and sixth overall, and established records that may never be broken: career victories (56), consecutive wins (7), consecutive final rounds (11) and tied for most season wins (15) and elimination-round wins (76).

In 2008, Schumacher won 90 percent of his rounds, winning 15 times in 18 final-round appearances in 24 national events. Quite simply, the greatest year ever by a drag racer.

4. A red-light end to a dream. In an era of multi-car teams with big-dollar sponsors, Tim Wilkerson was a throwback to the origins of the sport.

Not only did the 47-year-old from Springfield, Ill., own his car, but he also drove it and tuned it. It’s no coincidence that his first challenge to the Funny Car champion was during the year he formed an association with Don Prudhomme.

“I race his junk,” Wilkerson said, “since it’s better than what I have.”

Wilkerson had a breakout year in 2008 with six victories. He went from a 14-16 round record in 2007 to 42-18 this past season, tops among Funny Car drivers.

He led the points race for the majority of the year and entered the Countdown in first place. He was the underdog everyone in the stands and pits was rooting for.

But it came to a sudden end on the final Sunday of the season. In a first-round match with Force, Wilkerson jumped the start and fouled out. Cruz Pedregon eventually won the class.

“I guess you have to say that Sunday in Pomona was the lowest point, but only because we had been so high for so long,” Wilkerson said. “We were living in rare air all season, breaking new ground just about every week, so losing in the first round, and losing like that, felt pretty awful.”

It was a loss the entire industry felt.

5. It’s the economy. The drag racing industry has long considered itself as a cheap alternative to the high-dollar world of NASCAR. However, the economic slowdown has hit both circuits like a hammer.

No sooner had the season ended when NHRA announced its first layoffs in years. Previously, some sponsors had declared they would not return in 2009. However, since then, other sponsors have indicated they will not return.

The partial list of those who have opted to go another direction or just get out include Caterpilar, Snap-On Tools, Old Spice, Monster Energy Drink, Rock Star and ACDelco. Still to be determined is the involvement of General Motors in 2009, which would greatly impact Pro Stock.

A handful of drivers are seeking sponsorship for the upcoming season, enough that getting full fields at all NHRA national events could be a challenge in 2009.

Lou Brewster is a nationally recognized motorsports journalist who has staffed NASCAR and NHRA events since 1969. Has also staffed high school football, in five different states, since 1967. Has won several national awards in writing and breaking news.